Wine MBA

BEM:

Which markets do you see as being the most promising in the near future?

JANCIS:

I suppose it will be countries where wine consumption is growing steeply and which are less affected by financial gloom than most. We have to think that Asia has particular potential, not just China because of the massive population but more established markets such as Taiwan, Japan, Singapore - and India, although import taxes are still punitive. Brazil also has extremely high import taxes but a massive groundswell of interest in fine wine (and not particularly notable wine production of its own). I am always amazed by how many subscribers to JancisRobinson.com are based in Brazil.

BEM:

Do you think one day all the wines will be issued from biological agriculture?

JANCIS:

This is an interesting question. I certainly think that all viticulture will become more sustainable, but I doubt that all vignerons will manage to follow the strictures of organic production to the letter. I suspect that we may have some very rainy seasons as the climate changes and since the vine is so susceptible to fungal diseases, vignerons may be unwilling to give up spraying.

BEM :

Can you share with us your first wine experience?

JANCIS :

I was a student at Oxford and my then boyfriend's father was very generous with his allowance. This meant that we ate out rather more than most undergraduates. The wine that really showed me how sensual and yet intellectually demanding wine could be was a Chambolle Musigny les Amoureuses 1959 at a restaurant called The Rose Revived.